Archive for March, 2012

Google is watching you

Posted: March 28, 2012 in Social Media
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Everything you type in Google’s search bar is saved.

Here is an example to make it simpler.

Let us say you are writing an article about HIV.

You search for “HIV”

You get the regular results and you move on.

Google remembers that you looked up HIV. Google already has your GPS location saved, your computer’s IP address and all the rest of information from your YouTube channel, Picasa, and Google plus account. Google can even collect private information from content of your email if you are using Google’s Gmail. So Google already knows what movies you watch on YouTube, pictures you browse on Picasa and keywords that you use frequently in emails. Even though Google will not divulge such information directly, it will still be shared with third parties in order to create targeted advertisement.

Here is the result:

When you browse the net, you will start seeing more advertisement about HIV medications and resources targeted based on the search term you used while preparing that paper on HIV. A coworker, a friend or family member can guess what search items you frequently use based on the type of advertisement they see pop up on your screen.

Imagine you search “bankruptcy” and think that your bank or credit company might eventually get such information. Imagine the personalized ads you will get if you search “gay”, “revolution” or “domestic violence resources”. You got the idea.

In addition, when your information and search history is stored it is at risk. Your search history can be ordered by court (It happened). Google could get hacked (It happened). A bad Google employee might go snooping (It happened)

There are safer alternatives to the search mogul. DuckDuckGo is only one out of many search engines that does not collect or track your search history. You remain anonymous.

Another alternative is to learn more about the privacy policy and options you have with Google to conceal your private information, like wiping your history or adjusting your dashboard.

 

You might also want to read my previous post: What is your Google Problem?

My other posts about social media:

HPV vaccine for womyn over 25 and for men too

Posted: March 25, 2012 in Health
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HPV: a virus that can cause cancer

In 2006, the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was authorized in Canada for use in females between the ages of 9 and 26 years for the prevention of infection caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18. Types 16 and 18 are most common cause of  cervical cancer. They can also cause vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers. Types 6 and 11 are most common cause of genital warts.

In Feb. 2010, the vaccine was approved for use in boys between ages 9 and 26. The vaccine was found to decrease the odds of genital warts. Since males are usually a silent carrier of the virus, vaccinating boys is thought to decrease the incidence of cervical cancer in females by decreasing transmission.

In April 2011, the quadrivalent vaccine was approved for use in females up to age 45. A new indication for prevention of anal cancer was also added.

The quadrivalent vaccine is now the standard of care. It has been recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) for use in womyn ages 9 to 45 for prevention of cervical cancer and anogenital warts, and in men ages 9 to 25 for prevention of anal cancer and anogenital warts. NACI also recommends the vaccine to men who have sex with men (MSM) from the age of 9 onwards. Stronger evidence was found for the quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil) as compared to the bivalent vaccine (Cervarix).

This vaccine decreases the risk of cancer in men and womyn. It is essential to make it available and accessible. With all the strong evidence that is now available for the benefits of such vaccination, it becomes unethical to withhold such intervention. Having said that, vaccination alone is not enough. We should continue to raise awareness about practices that reduce the risk of transmission of this and other sexually transmitted viruses, like abstinence and monogamy whenever feasible, condom use (limited role with HPV transmission) and targeting marginalized groups like sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered LGBT) underprivileged and uninsured, among others.

 
You might be interested in reading:
PAP test: More is not better! (Added April 02 2012)
HPV: Can a sexually transmitted virus cause cancer? (Added Oct. 09 2010)

What is your Google Problem?

Posted: March 24, 2012 in Human Rights
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A follow up post was published March 28 2012: Google is watching you

I recently received a request to delete someone’s comment on one of my blog posts. Apparently, googling her/his name was bringing my blog in the top three search results exposing that specific comment rather than other important content about her/him.

In this digital age, it is essential to keep track of what Google says about you. If it does not say anything, it can be a double-edged sword. You are either too careful to leave any digital footprints; “what are you trying to hide?”; or completely disconnected from the digital world; “what age do you live in?”

Have you googled yourself yet? If not, do it now. Do it often.

Many have googled you already, so don’t be the last.

Applying to a new job? Expect to be googled.

Moving to a new neighbourhood? Expect to be googled.

Dating a new person? You have already been googled, under Images, YouTube and News and with multiple different search terms.

With the power Google has to speak on your behalf, you need to learn to speak their language. It is important to weed out negative search results and promote make-me-look-good ones.

Google prides itself with a mysterious algorithm that ranks results. Money and political power do not appear to be able to crack that algorithm down. The Google Problem of USA 2012 presidential candidate Rick Santorum is one example. The best practice to optimize your name, business or organization’s search result is yet to be figured out. For now, here are few of the tricks I learned:

Create a blog and post frequently. A blog will give you initial control over what comes up first when someone googles your name or chosen keywords. Google likes fresh so blog regularly. Search terms leading to your blog will increase with every post. Try to link to your blog from other webistes. Linking from a .edu site appears to have a great impact. Tag articles and photos you want to promote with your full name. Share content that others might want to link to, content that will be relevant today and in 5 years. Share the link to you blog on all your social media accounts. Consider guest-posting on other blogs if you are not ready for a personal blog yet. Use your full name to tag those posts. Consider including your photo and tag it with your full name.

Update your bio on all your social media accounts and company profiles. Make sure to include links to your blog. Always use the same spelling of your name.

Use free third-party reputation-enhancers or internet content monitors like Yasni.

Optimize security options. Edit your security options on social platforms –  like Facebook,, Google+, Twitter – to suite your desire. Nevertheless, assume that most of content you post anywhere online is likely to get public and searchable, so choose carefully what you share even in closed groups, chat channels, and private forums. A single tweet you made years ago can come back and haunt you. Comments you make on public Facebook pages are also exposed by search engines.

Learn about Google‘s new privacy policy and how it might affect you. Be aware, as of March 1st 2012, all the information Google collects about you on its platforms — Google+, Google Search, YouTube and even Gmail — will be put into one database. Even though the likely motive for Google is to provide advertisers with affective traffic by monitoring consumer patterns and behaviour, your privacy is at stake. Search terms you use can reveal very personal information such as your age, sex, sexual orientation, health, location, religion and more. To view what Google already knows about you start with the Dashboard.

Saignement Post-Ménopausique: Pour mieux comprendre!

Posted: March 20, 2012 in Français, Health
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Différence entre pré-ménopause et ménopause: Un survol!

Jessy Phillips, Externe, Universite de Sherbrooke

La pré-ménopause est une phase normale du cycle reproductif féminin, au cours de laquelle, le corps se prépare à mettre fin à la période de fécondité. Ce processus est une conséquence normale du vieillissement. Au cours de cette période, les ovaires deviennent de moins en moins fonctionnels et diminuent leur production d’ovule, il s’en suit alors un débalancement hormonal (diminution de la production d’œstrogène et de progestérone).

Cette fluctuation hormonale se manifeste d’abord par une irrégularité du cycle menstruel et des changements d’humeurs et/ou émotionnels. C’est principalement la diminution en œstrogène qui occasionne la majorité des symptômes accompagnant la pré-ménopause (voir tableau 1). La présence de ses signes et symptômes peut se présenter 3-5 ans avant l’arrêt complet des menstruations. L’intensité et l’importance des symptômes varient d’une femme l’autre.

La ménopause se définit comme étant l’arrêt définitif des menstruations pendant 1 an. Chez la plupart des femmes, la ménopause apparaît entre 50 et 55 ans (51,5 ans en moyenne).

Tableau 1: Symptômes associés à un déficit en œstrogène.

Le stade post-ménopause est atteint lorsque l’hormones FSH (mentionnée plus haut) atteint les environs de 20-40 IU/L.

Défintion du saignement post-ménopausique 

Les saignements post-ménopausiques (SPM) sont des saignements utérins chez une femme ayant atteint la ménopause (aménorrhée pendant 12 mois consécutif).

Tout saignement post-ménopausique est considéré anormal et nécessite une investigation et une prise en charge appropriées, et ce afin d’exclure le cancer de l’endomètre (carcinome endométrial), pathologie maligne responsable d’environ 10-15% des SPM.

Étiologies des saignements génitaux post-ménopausiques

  1. L’hormonothérapie (œstrogène et progestérone) est l’une des causes les plus fréquentes de saignement chez une femme ménopausée (30% des SPM). Lorsque l’hormonothérapie n’est pas prise de façon adéquate, que les quantités d’hormones sont insuffisantes ou encore que la prise est cyclique, des saignements vaginaux peuvent s’en suivre. En fait, le traitement par œstrogène est très efficace contre les symptômes incommodants de la pré-ménopause/ménopause (voir plus haut) et est fréquemment utilisé pour diminuer l’impact de ceux-ci. Il n’est pas rare que des saignements post-ménopauses se produisent, et ce, jusqu’à 6 mois après l’instauration de l’hormonothérapie. Outre le soulagement des symptômes ménopausiques, la prise d’œstrogène cause l’épaississement de l’endomètre (muqueuse de l’utérus), ainsi, lorsque la quantité d’œstrogène est trop grande, la muqueuse s’épaissit, devient friable et se détache occasionnant des saignements vaginaux. C’est pour cette raison que la prise d’œstrogène est généralement combinée à la progestérone qui prévient un trop grand épaississement de la muqueuse.
  2. L’atrophie vaginale ou endométriale compte aussi pour environ 30% des SPM. L’insuffisance en œstrogène survenant avec la ménopause, entraine un amincissement de l’épithélium de la paroi vaginale ou endométrial ce qui cause de micro-érosions accompagnées d’inflammation chronique qui rendent la muqueuse vaginale friable à l’origine des saignements ou « spotting ». L’atrophie vaginale s’accompagne aussi de sécheresse vaginale pouvant entrainer des douleurs lors des relations sexuelles (dyspareunie).
  3. La présence de polype, excroissance non-maligne de la muqueuse cervicale (col utérin) ou endométriale, peut également expliquer 10-15% des SPM. Les polypes peuvent être favorisé par l’hormonothérapie à l’œstrogène ou par le tamoxifen.
  4. Le cancer de l’endomètre est le cancer génital le plus commun chez la femme de plus de 45 ans. Même s’il ne représente que 10-15% des SPM, il est important de le reconnaître tôt afin d’éviter la propagation du cancer. Plusieurs facteurs de risques sont associés au développement du cancer de l’endomètre (carcinome endométrial). L’obésité est reconnu comme étant un facteur de risque important, les femmes obèses produisent plus d’œstrogène en périphérie grâce à un processus nommée aromatisation qui se fait principalement dans les tissus adipeux. L’augmentation en œstrogène favorise l’épaississement de l’endomètre et favorise le développement du cancer. L’utilisation chronique d’œstrogène exogènes non-opposée par la progestérone et aussi l’utilisation du tamoxifen (médicament utilisé dans le traitement du cancer du sein) favorisent également le cancer de l’endomètre. L’utilisation de contraceptifs hormonaux (oraux, patch, dépo-provera, dispositif intra-utérin, etc.) chez les jeunes femmes et le fait d’avoir eu plusieurs grossesses (multiparités) sont des facteurs protecteurs contre le cancer de l’endomètre.
  5. L’hyperplasie de l’endomètre (5-10% des SPM) peut également être expliquée par la production endogène d’œstrogène (obésité, tumeur sécrétrice d’œstrogène) ou par la prise exogène d’œstrogène (hormonothérapie).
  6. Les autres causes moins fréquentes (5-10% des SPM) englobent les cancers du col, les fibromes (cause fréquent des saignements chez les femmes pré-ménopause, mais très rarement chez les femmes en ménopauses), sarcome, trauma, infections, etc.

Investigation et prise en charge

D’abord, il est important d’exclure toutes causes de saignement non-gynécologique. En fait, il faut s’assurer que l’origine du saignement ne provient pas des organes entourant l’utérus, soit du système urinaire (cystite, glomérulonéphrite) ou du systèmes gastro-intestinal. Une fois les causes non-génycologique excluses, un examen gynécologique (avec un spéculum) est nécessaire afin d’exclure toute causes vaginal ou cervical (col utérin) de lésions visibles (atrophie, polype cervical).

Figure 1 : Algorithme pour l’évaluation diagnostique chez les patientes présentant des saignements post-ménopausiques

Traduit de l’anglais sur le site suivant

Traitements 

Le traitement du SPM dépend entièrement de la cause du saignement post-ménopausique. Il est envisageable qu’un traitement plus agressif (hystérectomie par exemple) sera favorisé en cas de cancer de l’endomètre afin d’éviter la propagation. Par contre, chez les femmes souffrant d’atrophie vaginal, des crèmes ou produits à base d’œstrogène peuvent être considérés. Selon les lignes directrices en gynécologie, l’observation clinique peut être indiquée dans certains cas.

 

Écrit par : Jessy Phillips, Externe, Université de Sherbrooke
Édité par : Dr Hasan Abdessamad, Professeur clinique à l’Université de Sherbrooke

Invisible Children & Kony 2012: A Cause and Controversy

Posted: March 7, 2012 in Human Rights
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Today I came across this YouTube video on my brother’s Facebook timeline. His comment: “This is going super Viral. 2 million in 30 minutes as i was watching it.” made me give it a shot. Two minutes into the video, I am completely sucked in. I researched it. I shared it:

10,000,000 views in 2 days only, watch the first 2 minutes and you will be sucked in. A must-see

I have heard of horrible crimes relating to human trafficking, sexual enslavement and child soldiers, but I have never come too close and personal with it like this video made me.

Describing the case with my words would not give it justice, I will let you get sensitized by watching the documentary yourself: Watch YouTube here

I have to say though, I was skeptical at first. before I share it here I did my research.

I started by looking up Joseph Kory on Wikipedia:

Joseph Kony (born 18 September 1964) is a Ugandan guerrilla group leader, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a group engaged in a violent campaign to establish theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments throughout Uganda. The LRA say that spirits have been sent to communicate this mission directly to Kony.

Directed by Kony, the LRA has earned a reputation for its actions against the people of several countries, including northern Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan. It has abducted and forced an estimated 66,000 children to fight for them, and has forced the internal displacement of over 2,000,000 people since its rebellion began in 1986. In 2005 Kony was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, but has evaded capture.

Then I googled Kony:

  1. News for kony

    1. Joseph Kony viral video campaign clouded in controversy

      National Post‎ – 51 minutes ago
      A documentary film aimed at exposing the heinous acts of Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony exploded over the Internet Wednesday, drawing praise and …
Then I surfed Twitter #Kony2012. #StopKony has been trending worldwide.

Apparently, even though the campaign is going viral over social media, proving their point that “Nothing is more powerful that an idea whose time has come”, controversy is surrounding it.

May you not be mislead, there is no controversy around Joseph Kony’s heinous crimes or the Kony 2012 campaign intentions. The controversy is more surrounding the method of raising awareness that Invisible Children has adopted. Some criticized their financial management. Others are appalled by their “support of corrupted Ugandan army”. A photo of the founder posing with weapons surfaced online. Some even called the campaign dangerous.

Invisible Children has already responded.

I call on those criticizing this campaign to create another. Create a campaign that abides by your rules and make it viral. The more campaigns the merrier. We are brainwashed on a daily basis by mainstream media and our knowledge base about the world is shaped by those few sitting on the golden desk in the big media corporations.

I salute Invisible Children for being 2012-smart, for believing so strong in the righteous cause and for being persistent. Their campaign brought up close and personal with crimes happening continents away, crimes that have been going on for decades. They succeeded where mainstream media failed. I salute their efforts. But it is not about the campaign or the organization, or its founder and his adorable little son, Gavin. It is about all the suffering and abuses, mutilations, rape and enslavement brought to many by a single person. A leader that is soon to be famous, famous enough to warrant greater efforts to stop him.

I salute the campaign for being able to recruit me. I am willing to take action.

The fact remains that there is no controversy around the crimes committed by Joseph Kony, may his name become “famous by Dec. 2012.” Joseph Kony has been indicted in 2005 by the International Criminal Court. I hope the current controversy would not make the campaign bigger than the cause in the eyes of the media.

Take action now. Make a difference.

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